Guitar Talk: Conversations with Visionary Players

Guitar Talk dives deep into the minds of 27 of the most innovative guitarists of our time, offering an intimate look at the creative journeys, philosophies, and stories behind the music.

Through conversations led by Joel Harrison, icons like Nels Cline, Pat Metheny, Bill Frisell, Julian Lage, Mary Halvorson, Vernon Reid, and many more reveal the inspirations, challenges, and breakthroughs that shaped their unique voices on the instrument.

The guitar’s ability to howl, soothe, scream, and sing is just the backdrop—what truly shines here are the idiosyncratic personalities and profound artistic journeys of these musicians. From Bill Frisell’s surprising high school R&B contest win (beating future members of Earth, Wind & Fire) to Nels Cline’s reflections on the music he’d want played at his funeral, and Michael Gregory Jackson’s candid stories of navigating racism in the avant-jazz, rock, and blues scenes of the 1980s, Guitar Talk is filled with revelations, humor, and raw insight.

This book is a must-read for anyone captivated by the boundless possibilities of the modern guitar.

"The work that Joel Harrison has done to showcase the development of the guitar and the expanded role that it has taken in music is a testament to the almost unlimited sonic dimensions the word 'guitar' can invoke in the imagination of musicians and fans alike.”
—Pat Metheny

“Reading about my fellow guitarists, their paths, their inspiration, their struggles and their dedication, inspires me and makes me feel connected with them. If there is one thing that shines through all these interviews, it is the courage all artists share, to become exactly who they want to be, or more likely who they really are.”
—Wolfgang Muthspiel

(image: joel harrison via joelharrison.com)